Aurelius SE & Co. KGaA

Earnings Release • Aug 28, 2008

News Details

Corporate | 28 August 2008 07:45

AURELIUS half-year figures considerably better than expected

AURELIUS AG / Half Year Results

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• Group sales over six times as high at 298.9 million euros

• Group earnings rise 58 percent to 7.7 million euros

• Free cash flow clearly positive once again at 6.3 million euros

Munich, August 28, 2008 – The industrial holding, AURELIUS, saw a
significantly better end to the first six months of 2008 than previously
expected. Both sales and earnings trends, as well as the Munich Group’s
liquidity situation, testify to the strength of the company’s operations
after the first six months of the financial year.

In the first six months, AURELIUS generated Group sales totaling 298.9
million euros compared with 41.2 million euros in the previous year
(+625.3 %). Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
(EBITDA) increased from 7.9 million euros to 17.5 million euros (+121.0 %).
Group earnings rose from 4.9 million euros to 7.7 million euros (+57.7 %).
That corresponds to basic earnings per share of 0.86 euros (previous year:
0.57 euros).

The company’s equity also continued to climb. At 84.0 million euros, it was
up 11.4 per cent from 75.4 million euros compared with its level at the end
of 2007, and thus fully covered non-current liabilities totaling 83.6
million euros.

Liquid assets also increased significantly. Cash holdings rose to 47.5
million euros compared with 36.9 million euros in the previous year
(+28.8%). The Group’s bank borrowings to the tune of 41.9 million euros are
therefore fully covered by short-term liquidity.

The free cash flow was clearly positive as at June 30, 2008, as it had been
at the end of the first quarter. It now stood at 6.3 million euros compared
with -4.0 million euros at the end of the first six months of 2007.

As usual, earnings take account of both positive and negative non-recurring
effects resulting from the initial consolidation of companies acquired. The
positive non-recurring effects – the negative differences accruing from
capital consolidation (badwill) during the initial consolidation – totaled
5.3 million euros in the first six months of 2008 (previous year: 2.5
million euros). In return, the negative non-recurring effects, resulting
from the restructuring costs of the new Group subsidiary already accruing
and the provision to be expected ran into 2.9 million euros (previous year:
1.3 million euros).

The most important key figures for business performance at a glance:

[in mEUR] Half-year 2008 Half-year 2007 Change
Group sales 298.9 41.2 625.3 %
Group sales (annualized) 804.1 121.4 562.5 %
EBITDA 17.5 7.9 121.0 %
Group earnings 7.7 4.9 57.7 %
Free cash flow 6.3 -4.0
Liquid assets (cash) 47.5 36.9 28.8 %
Equity 84.0 75.4 11.4 %

Dr. Dirk Markus, CEO of AURELIUS, is delighted with the all-round positive
figures: 'We have succeeded in significantly improving sales and
performance even in what is currently a difficult market climate. Today, we
have already outperformed the objectives we communicated for the entire
year.' The Management Board of AURELIUS is expecting the company to perform
considerably better than previously communicated due to the favorable
business performance and the acquisition of Berentzen and RTL Shop at the
beginning of the third quarter. On the basis of annualized Group sales,
AURELIUS will overshoot its previous 2008 sales target of one billion euros
by a long way. At the same time, Group earnings will likewise be
considerably higher than the previous year’s figure. Moreover, another two
to four acquisitions as well as the sale of at least one holding are
scheduled for the current financial year.

The full 2008 half-year report is available for downloading on the
company’s website at www.aureliusinvest.de.

For further information on AURELIUS AG, please do not hesitate to contact
us:

Ingo Middelmenne
Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Tel +49 (89) 544799 - 56
Fax +49 (89) 544799 - 55
ingo.middelmenne@aureliusinvest.de

About AURELIUS AG:

AURELIUS AG with its headquarters in Munich acquires medium-sized companies
and group subsidiaries whose business no longer corresponds to the core
business of their current owners. AURELIUS even takes over companies with
complex base structures and takes an active part in their further
development. With the help of its own specialized task force, the company
boosts the value-added potential of its subsidiaries for the benefit of all
involved and taking account of the associated social responsibility.
AURELIUS AG shares are traded in the Open Market section of the Frankfurt
Stock Exchange (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8).
28.08.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

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